Nitrogen assimilation by legumes - processes and ecological limitations

Effects of nitrogen addition and Bothriochloa ischaemum and Lespedeza davurica mixture on plant chlorophyll fluorescence and community production in semi-arid grassland

Background

Grass-legume mixture can effectively improve productivity and stimulate overyielding in artificial grasslands, but may be N-limited in semi-arid regions. This study investigated the effects of N addition on chlorophyll fluorescence and production in the grass-legume mixtures community.

Methods

An N addition experiment was conducted in the Bothriochloa ischaemum and Lespedeza davurica mixture community, with seven mixture ratios (B0L10, B2L8, B4L6, B5L5, B6L4, B8L2, and B10L0) according to the sowing abundance of B.ischaemum and L.davurica and four N addition levels, N0, N25, N50, and N75 (0,25,50,75kgNhm-2 a-1), respectively. We analyzed the response of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of the two species, the rapid light-response curves of chlorophyll fluorescence, as well as aboveground biomass (AGB) and overyielding.

Results

Our results showed that the two species showed different photosynthetic strategies, with L.davurica having significantly higher initial fluorescence (Fo), effective photochemical quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII), and coefficient of photochemical fluorescence quenching (qP) than B. ischaemum, consisting with results of rapid light-response curves. N addition and mixture ratio both had significant effects on chlorophyll fluorescence and AGB (p<0.001). The ΦPSII and qP of L.davurica were significantly lowest in B5L5 and B6L4 under N addition, and the effect of N varied with mixture ratio. The photosynthetic efficiency of B. ischaemum was higher in mixture than in monoculture (B10L0), and ΦPSII was significantly higher in N50 than in N25 and N50 at mixture communities except at B5L5. The community AGB was significantly higher in mixture communities than in two monocultures and highest at B6L4. In the same mixture ratio, the AGB was highest under the N50. The overyielding effects were significantly highest under the N75 and B6L4 treatments, mainly attributed to L.davurica. The partial least squares path models demonstrated that adding N increased soil nutrient content, and complementary utilization by B.ischaemum and L.davurica increased the photosynthetic efficiency. However, as the different photosynthetic strategies of these two species, the effect on AGB was offset, and the mixture ratio's effects were larger than N. Our results proposed the B6L4 and N50 treatments were the optimal combination, with the highest AGB and overyielding, moderate grass-legume ratio, optimal community structure, and forage values.

Ammonium acts systemically while nitrate exerts an additional local effect on Medicago truncatula nodules

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) has a high energetic cost for legume plants; legumes thus reduce SNF when soil N is available. The present study aimed to increase our understanding regarding the impacts of the two principal forms of available N in soils (ammonium and nitrate) on SNF. We continuously measured the SNF of Medicago truncatula under controlled conditions. This permitted nodule sampling for comparative transcriptome profiling at points connected to the nodules' reaction following ammonium or nitrate applications. The N component of both ions systemically induced a rhythmic pattern of SNF, while the activity in control plants remained constant. This rhythmic activity reduced the per-day SNF. The nitrate ion had additional local effects; the more pronounced were a strong downregulation of leghaemoglobin, nodule cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides and nodule-enhanced nicotianamine synthase (neNAS). The neNAS has proven to be of importance for nodule functioning. Although other physiological impacts of nitrate on nodules were observed (e.g. nitrosylation of leghaemoglobin), the main effect was a rapid ion-specific and organ-specific change in gene expression levels. Contrastingly, during the first hours after ammonium applications, the transcriptome remained virtually unaffected. Therefore, nitrate-induced genes could be key for increasing the nitrate tolerance of SNF.

Soybeans Grown with Carbonaceous Nanomaterials Maintain Nitrogen Stoichiometry by Assimilating Soil Nitrogen to Offset Impaired Dinitrogen Fixation

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) can enter agroecosystems because of their widespread use and disposal. Within soil, ENMs may affect legumes and their dinitrogen (N2) fixation, which are critical for food supply and N-cycling. Prior research focusing on end point treatment effects has reported that N2-fixing symbioses in an important food legume, soybean, can be impaired by ENMs. Yet, it remains unknown how ENMs can influence the actual amounts of N2 fixed and what plant total N contents are since plants can also acquire N from the soil. We determined the effects of one already widespread and two rapidly expanding carbonaceous nanomaterials (CNMs: carbon black, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and graphene; each at three concentrations) on the N economy of soil-grown soybeans. Unlike previous studies, this research focused on processes and interactions within a plant-soil-microbial system. We found that total plant N accumulation was unaffected by CNMs. However, as shown by 15N isotope analyses, CNMs significantly diminished soybean N2 fixation (by 31-78%). Plants maintained N stoichiometry by assimilating compensatory N from the soil, accompanied by increased net soil N mineralization. Our findings suggest that CNMs could undermine the role of legume N2 fixation in supplying N to agroecosystems. Maintaining productivity in leguminous agriculture experiencing such effects would require more fossil-fuel-intensive N fertilizer and increase associated economic and environmental costs. This work highlights the value of a process-based analysis of a plant-soil-microbial system for assessing how ENMs in soil can affect legume N2 fixation and N-cycling.

Regulation of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Legume Root Nodules

In most legume nodules, the di-nitrogen (N2)-fixing rhizobia are present as organelle-like structures inside their root host cells. Many processes operate and interact within the symbiotic relationship between plants and nodules, including nitrogen (N)/carbon (C) metabolisms, oxygen flow through nodules, oxidative stress, and phosphorous (P) levels. These processes, which influence the regulation of N2 fixation and are finely tuned on a whole-plant basis, are extensively reviewed in this paper. The carbonic anhydrase (CA)-phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC)-malate dehydrogenase (MDH) is a key pathway inside nodules involved in this regulation, and malate seems to play a crucial role in many aspects of symbiotic N2 fixation control. How legumes specifically sense N-status and how this stimulates all of the regulatory factors are key issues for understanding N2 fixation regulation on a whole-plant basis. This must be thoroughly studied in the future since there is no unifying theory that explains all of the aspects involved in regulating N2 fixation rates to date. Finally, high-throughput functional genomics and molecular tools (i.e., miRNAs) are currently very valuable for the identification of many regulatory elements that are good candidates for accurately dissecting the particular N2 fixation control mechanisms associated with physiological responses to abiotic stresses. In combination with existing information, utilizing these abundant genetic molecular tools will enable us to identify the specific mechanisms underlying the regulation of N2 fixation.

The response of mesophyll conductance to short- and long-term environmental conditions in chickpea genotypes

. Mesophyll conductance (g m) has been shown to vary between genotypes of a number of species and with growth environments, including nitrogen availability, but understanding of g m variability in legumes is limited. We might expect g m in legumes to respond differently to limited nitrogen availability, due to their ability to fix atmospheric N2. Using online stable carbon isotope discrimination method, we quantified genetic variability in g m under ideal conditions, investigated g m response to N source (N2-fixation or inorganic N) and determined the effects of N source and water availability on the rapid response of g m to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and radiation wavelength in three genotypes of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Genotypes varied 2-fold in g m under non-limiting environments. N-fed plants had higher g m than N2-fixing plants in one genotype, while g m in the other two genotypes was unaffected. g m response to PPFD was altered by N source in one of three genotypes, in which the g m response to PPFD was statistically significant in N-fed plants but not in N2-fixing plants. There was no clear effect of moderate water stress on the g m response to PPFD and radiation wavelength. Genotypes of a single legume species differ in the sensitivity of g m to both long- and short-term environmental conditions, precluding utility in crop breeding programmes.

A Conformational Switch Triggers Nitrogenase Protection from Oxygen Damage by Shethna Protein II (FeSII)

The two-component metalloprotein nitrogenase catalyzes the reductive fixation of atmospheric dinitrogen into bioavailable ammonium in diazotrophic prokaryotes. The process requires an efficient energy metabolism, so that although the metal clusters of nitrogenase rapidly decompose in the presence of dioxygen, many free-living diazotrophs are obligate aerobes. In order to retain the functionality of the nitrogen-fixing enzyme, some of these are able to rapidly "switch-off" nitrogenase, by shifting the enzyme into an inactive but oxygen-tolerant state. Under these conditions the two components of nitrogenase form a stable, ternary complex with a small [2Fe:2S] ferredoxin termed FeSII or the "Shethna protein II". Here we have produced and isolated Azotobacter vinelandii FeS II and have determined its three-dimensional structure to 2.1 Å resolution by X-ray diffraction. In the crystals, the dimeric protein was present in two distinct states that differ in the conformation of an extended loop in close proximity to the iron-sulfur cluster. We show that this rearrangement is redox-dependent and forms the molecular basis for oxygen-dependent conformational protection of nitrogenase. Protection assays highlight that FeSII binds to a preformed complex of MoFe and Fe protein upon activation, primarily through electrostatic interactions. The surface properties and known complexes of nitrogenase component proteins allow us to propose a model of the conformationally protected ternary complex of nitrogenase.

Effects of foliar boron application on seed composition, cell wall boron, and seed δ(15)N and δ(13)C isotopes in water-stressed soybean plants

Limited information is available on the effects of foliar boron (B) application on soybean seed composition. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of foliar B on seed composition (protein, oil, fatty acids, and sugars). Our hypothesis was that since B is involved in nitrogen and carbon metabolism, it may impact seed composition. A repeated greenhouse experiment was conducted where half of the soybean plants was exposed to water stress (WS) and the other half was well-watered. Foliar boron (FB) in the form of boric acid was applied twice at a rate of 1.1 kg ha(-1). The first application was during flowering stage, and the second application was during seed-fill stage. Treatments were water stressed plants with no FB (WS-B); water stressed plants with FB (WS+B); watered plants without FB (W-B), and watered plants with FB (W+B). The treatment W-B was used as a control. Comparing with WS-B plants, B concentration was the highest in leaves and seed of W+B plants (84% increase in leaves and 73% in seed). Seeds of W+B plants had higher protein (11% increase), oleic acid (27% increase), sucrose (up to 40% increase), glucose, and fructose comparing with W-B. However, seed stachyose concentrations increased by 43% in WS-B plants seed compared with W-B plants. Cell wall (structural) B concentration in leaves was higher in all plants under water stress, especially in WS-B plants where the percentage of cell wall B reached up to 90%. Water stress changed seed δ(15)N and δ(13)C values in both B applied and non-B applied plants, indicating possible effects on nitrogen and carbon metabolism. This research demonstrated that FB increased B accumulation in leaves and seed, and altered seed composition of well-watered and water stressed plants, indicating a possible involvement of B in seed protein, and oleic and linolenic fatty acids. Further research is needed to explain mechanisms of B involvement in seed protein and fatty acids.

Genetic variation in pea (Pisum sativum L.) demonstrates the importance of root but not shoot C/N ratios in the control of plant morphology and reveals a unique relationship between shoot length and nodulation intensity

Nodule numbers are regulated through systemic auto-regulatory signals produced by shoots and roots. The relative effects of shoot and root genotype on nodule numbers together with relationships to organ biomass, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) status, and related parameters were measured in pea (Pisum sativum) exploiting natural genetic variation in maturity and apparent nodulation intensity. Reciprocal grafting experiments between the early (Athos), intermediate (Phönix) and late (S00182) maturity phenotypes were performed and Pearson's correlation coefficients for the parameters were calculated. No significant correlations were found between shoot C/N ratios and plant morphology parameters, but the root C/N ratio showed a strong correlation with root fresh and dry weights as well as with shoot fresh weight with less significant interactions with leaf number. Hence, the root C/N ratio rather than shoot C/N had a predominant influence on plant morphology when pea plants are grown under conditions of symbiotic nitrogen supply. The only phenotypic characteristic that showed a statistically significant correlation with nodulation intensity was shoot length, which accounted for 68.5% of the variation. A strong linear relationship was demonstrated between shoot length and nodule numbers. Hence, pea nodule numbers are controlled by factors related to shoot extension, but not by shoot or root biomass accumulation, total C or total N. The relationship between shoot length and nodule numbers persisted under field conditions. These results suggest that stem height could be used as a breeding marker for the selection of pea cultivars with high nodule numbers and high seed N contents.

Nitrogen from senescing lower leaves of common bean is re-translocated to nodules and might be involved in a N-feedback regulation of nitrogen fixation

The objective of the present study was to elucidate whether remobilized N from lower leaves is involved in causing the drop in N(2) fixation during pod-filling in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L). Moreover, we addressed the question of whether remobilized N from lower leaves would reach the nodules. Nodulated common bean plants were grown in a growth chamber in quartz sand. During a 2-week period, at vegetative and at reproductive growth, 50% of the leaves (lower part) were either excised or individually darkened, thereby removing the same photosynthetic capacity yet allowing N to be remobilized from the darkened leaves. Moreover, at the vegetative growth period, three lower leaves per plants were (15)N labelled by applying (15)NH(4)NO(3) prior to imposing the darkening treatment. Leaf darkening at vegetative growth induced N remobilization as well as reduced N(2)-fixation rates and growth. Leaf excision at reproductive growth enhanced N(2) fixation. Changes in N(2)-fixation rates were in all cases the result of altered growth rates, while the % N in the whole plant and in various plant parts remained conserved. Directly after leaf labelling, but also at the end of the vegetative growth period, substantial amounts of (15)N from the leaves could be recovered in nodules in the control, and in higher amounts in the leaf-darkening treatment. It is proposed that nitrogen from leaves circulates within the plant via nodules, and that the strength or composition of this circular flow may be the signal for a putative N-feedback effect.

Differential effects of nitrate and ammonium supply on nodule initiation, development, and distribution on roots of pea (Pisum sativum)

Low, static concentrations of ammonium have less negative effects on nodulation of pea ( Pisum sativum L.) than nitrate and in some cases may actually stimulate nodulation. Two experiments were carried out to assess the effects of supplying both forms of mineral N, separately and in combination, on nodule initiation, nodule development, nodule distribution between primary and lateral (secondary) roots, tertiary root development, and N2 fixation in pea. Pea plants were grown for up to 24 d after inoculation in hydroponic culture with no mineral N (zero N), NO3– (0.5 mmol·L–1), NH4+ (0.5 mmol·L–1), or NO3– (0.25 mmol·L–1) plus NH4+ (0.25 mmol·L–1). Concentrations of nitrate and ammonium were monitored on a daily basis and held relatively constant by continuous, automatic additions of stock solutions. Pea plants accumulated the most total dry mass (DM) and total N when supplied with the combination of nitrate plus ammonium but had the lowest nodule DM and percentage of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere. Whole-plant nodulation (nodules per plant) and DM-specific nodulation (nodules·g–1 root DM) were 2.3- and 2.4-fold greater, respectively, in pea plants receiving NH4+ at 0.5 mmol·L–1 than in those supplied with NO3– at 0.5 mmol·L–1. The nodulation responses of plants receiving NO3– at 0.25 mmol·L–1 plus NH4+ at 0.25 mmol·L–1 were more similar to those of plants receiving only nitrate than only ammonium, indicating that when both forms of mineral N are available to plants, nitrate has a predominant effect on the nodulation response. Assessment of the stage of development of nodule primordia and nodules during the time course of the experiments indicated that nitrate not only decreased the degree of nodule initiation but also the rate at which those nodules developed. Microscopic observations indicated that the more negative effects of the nitrate treatment on DM-specific nodulation as compared with the ammonium treatment were consistent on both the primary and lateral roots. Quantification of nodulation and tertiary root development on lateral roots indicated that the stimulating effects of ammonium were specific to nodulation; the effects on tertiary root development were different. The study demonstrates for the first time that when both forms of mineral N are available at equal concentrations, the nodulation response in pea is influenced more by nitrate than by ammonium and that the effects of nitrate and ammonium on tertiary root initiation and development are unlike those on nodulation.

Legume nodule senescence: roles for redox and hormone signalling in the orchestration of the natural aging process

Research on legume nodule development has contributed greatly to our current understanding of plant-microbe interactions. However, the factors that orchestrate root nodule senescence have received relatively little attention. Accumulating evidence suggests that redox signals contribute to the establishment of symbiosis and senescence. Although degenerative in nature, nodule senescence is an active process programmed in development in which reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidants, hormones and proteinases have key roles. Nodules have high levels of the redox buffers, ascorbate and glutathione, which are important in the nodulation process and in senescence. These metabolites decline with N-fixation as the nodule ages but the resultant decrease in redox buffering capacity does not necessarily lead to enhanced ROS or oxidative stress. We propose models by which ROS and antioxidants interact with hormones such as abscisic acid in the orchestration of nodule senescence.

Source-sink manipulations suggest an N-feedback mechanism for the drop in N2 fixation during pod-filling in pea and broad bean

Various legume species show a marked decline in N2 fixation during pod-filling. The objective of this study was to clarify whether this is a result of impaired nodule assimilate supply or whether re-moblised N from senescing lower leaves initiates the phenomenon through an N-feedback impact. In model experiments on pea and broad bean plants during vegetative and reproductive growth, 30 or 60% of green leaves were either excised or individually darkened, thus removing the same photosynthetic capacity yet allowing N to be re-mobilised from darkened leaves. Results are consistent with an N-feedback down-regulation of nitrogenase in that 1. leaf darkening reduced N2 fixation to a greater extent then excision, 2. darkened leaves quickly senesced and N from these leaves was re-mobilised in substantial amounts, 3. N and amino acids (AA) accumulated and C/N ratios decreased in nodules of plants with darkened leaves versus excision or untreated controls. These findings further support various indirect evidence that nitrogenase is regulated by an N-feedback mechanism that is not yet fully understood.

During stationary phase, Beijerinckia derxii shows nitrogenase activity concomitant with the release and accumulation of nitrogenated substances

Beijerinckia derxii, a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium, maintained an increasing nitrogenase specific activity during the stationary growth phase. To verify the destination of the nitrogen fixed during this phase, intra and extracellular nitrogenated contents were analyzed. Organic nitrogen and amino acids were detected in the supernatant of the cultures. An increase in intracellular content of both nitrogen and protein occurred. Cytoplasmic granules indicated the presence of arginine. The ability of a non-diazotrophic bacterium (E. coli) to use B. derxii proteins as a source of nitrogen was observed concomitantly with E. coli growth. There is a suggestion that B. derxii contributes to the environment by both releasing nitrogenated substances and accumulating substances capable of being consumed after its death.

Improved soybean root association of N-starved Bradyrhizobium japonicum

In this study, we addressed the effects of N limitation in Bradyrhizobium japonicum for its association with soybean roots. The wild-type strain LP 3001 grew for six generations with a growth rate of 1.2 day(-1) in a minimal medium with 28 mM mannitol as the carbon source and with the N source [(NH(4))(2)SO(4)] limited to only 20 microM. Under these conditions, the glutamine synthetase (GS) activity was five to six times higher than in similar cultures grown with 1 or 0.1 mM (NH(4))(2)SO(4). The NtrBC-inducible GSII form of this enzyme accounted for 60% of the specific activity in N-starved rhizobia, being negligible in the other two cultures. The exopolysaccharide (EPS) and capsular polysaccharide (CPS) contents relative to cell protein were significantly higher in the N-starved cultures, but on the other hand, the poly-3-hydroxybutyrate level did not rise in comparison with N-sufficient cultures. In agreement with the accumulation of CPS in N-starved cultures, soybean lectin (SBL) binding as well as stimulation of rhizobial adsorption to soybean roots by SBL pretreatment were higher. The last effect was evident only in cultures that had not entered stationary phase. We also studied nodC gene induction in relation to N starvation. In the chromosomal nodC::lacZ fusion Bj110-573, nodC gene expression was induced by genistein 2.7-fold more in N-starved young cultures than in nonstarved ones. In stationary-phase cultures, nodC gene expression was similarly induced in N-limited cultures, but induction was negligible in cultures limited by another nutrient. Nodulation profiles obtained with strain LP 3001 grown under N starvation indicated that these cultures nodulated faster. In addition, as culture age increased, the nodulation efficiency decreased for two reasons: fewer nodules were formed, and nodulation was delayed. However, their relative importance was different according to the nutrient condition: in older cultures the overall decrease in the number of nodules was the main effect in N-starved cultures, whereas a delay in nodulation was more responsible for a loss in efficiency of N-sufficient cultures. Competition for nodulation was studied with young cultures of two wild-type strains differing only in their antibiotic resistance, the N-starved cultures being the most competitive.

Comparison of drought tolerance in nitrogen-fixing and inorganic nitrogen-grown common beans

In this work, we evaluated how the use of alternative N sources affects drought-stress tolerance in common beans. To this end, plants were cultivated employing either N(2) fixation or two levels of inorganic nitrogen: 1 mM NH(4)NO(3) (limiting) or 10 mM NH(4)NO(3) (sufficient). Drought was imposed by withholding watering at 30 days after planting (DAP) - coinciding with flowering. At 20 DAP, growth and N content were significantly higher in NH(4)NO(3)-sufficient plants than in N(2)-fixing and NH(4)NO(3)-limited beans. At later times, only N(2)-fixing and NH(4)NO(3)-sufficient plants continued assimilating N and growing, with the NH(4)NO(3)-sufficient plants being consistently bigger. After 10 days of stress (40 DAP), desiccation was evident, but only NH(4)NO(3)-sufficient plants suffered drought-induced senescence. After 20 days of stress (50 DAP), N content increased in NH(4)NO(3)-sufficient but not in N(2)-fixing beans, despite the latter's lesser state of wilt. Pod dry weight dropped 43% in NH(4)NO(3)-sufficient beans with respect to well-watered plants, while remaining constant in N(2)-fixing beans. Under drought conditions, the number of pods limited pod yield regardless of the nitrogen source used; nevertheless, the translocation of soluble matter to pods continued in both NH(4)NO(3)-sufficient and N(2)-fixing beans. We conclude that common beans grown under conditions of N(2) fixation were more drought tolerant than those provided with sufficient levels of NH(4)NO(3). The most stress-sensitive traits in these plants were the incorporation of N into their shoots and the number of pods remaining on them.

The Effect of an 15NH415NO3 Fertilization at Flowering on Growth and Nitrogen Fixation of White and Blue Lupins

It is well established that legume species differ in intensity and duratio of nitrogen fixation during pod-filling. This was studied on new lines of white and blue lupins by comparing a solely nitrogen fixing and a treatment supplied with ¹⁵N-labelled fertizlier at flowering in pot experiments. Nitrogen application at flowering markedly incresed seed and total dry matter and seed and total N yield in white lumpins but remained without effect in blue lupins. simply replacing nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation virtually ceased with the onset of pod-filling in white lupins, causing a massive N-remobilization from vegetative plant parts. In contrast, the blue lupins fixed about 70% of total nitrogen fixation after flowering and displayed growth and net-N-assimilation of the vegetative plant parts. In both species the stems and pods especially supported seed N-filling, indicated by a low% N and a high C/N ratio at ripeness. It is concluded that pod-filling proved to be a critical stage for the seed yield in grain legumes. Exploiting differences in nitrogen fixation in this growth stage, e.g., by breeding, needs more precise knowledge about the regulation mechanisms and source-sink relations.